Back in the day, 207 Glen Street was a typical five & dime store. It sold measuring cups, candied wax lips, socks, grilled cheese sandwiches & cherry Cokes, eye shadow, yoyo’s, dish towels and Bazooka. And how many of us carted home a pair of poor, unsuspecting goldfish sloshing around in a plastic bag?
Unfortunately for us all, once the mall concept got its hooks into the American way of life, these wonderful stores inevitably and irrevocably went the way of the Edsel. (Having said that and under the policy of complete disclosure, I have been known to frequent a mall once or twice.)
Flash forward to the 1990’s. A vision for 207 Glen was presented by a fledgling theater troupe called the Adirondack Theatre Festival. City leaders jumped into action and, quicker than two shakes of a lamb’s tail, this gutted and empty space was transformed into The Wood Theater. (This is obviously the fairybook version because I simply don’t have enough time or space to go into the real story of dedication, hard work, generosity by all – and especially the late Charles W. Wood.
The Wood is now a beaconed destination for downtown evening entertainment offering up all sorts of concerts, performances, community events, etc.
ATF (Adirondack Theatre Festival) is still going strong with new staff – but the mission remains the same. Newer quality works, equity actors, an intimate setting and a dream.
Call ATF’s box office. Productions run through the end of July. Bye for now, Alice
PS Spay or neuter your pets!